WPCA lowers sewer rate for thousands of Ansonia residents

Published 5:21 pm, Tuesday, July 19, 2016

ANSONIA >> Residents will get a slight break on their sewer bills for the third consecutive year, thanks to a rate reduction the Water Pollution Control Authority recently approved.

The WPCA, at its July meeting, voted to reduce the sewer use rate by 7.5 percent, lowering fees for thousands of city residents an average of $12 to $18 on their bills.

The rate reduction, according to Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley, was primarily attributed to administrative cost-saving methods and “bumped-up collections” efforts.

The lower fees come on the heels of two previous years’ rate reductions, including a 7 percent reduction in the 2015-16 fiscal year and a 6½ percent reduction in fiscal year 2014-15.

O’Malley said the average sewer/well user in the city pays about $220-$224 per year. The newly approved reduced rates for sewer use went from $2.65 per 100 cubic feet to $2.45 per 100 cubic feet and well rates went from $244 per unit to $207 per unit. The WPCA also approved a $10 increase from $50 to $60 for ratepayers to help fund capital improvements.

Mayor David Cassetti lauded the WPCA for reducing rates yet again, and helping residents keep more money in their pockets.

“I would like to applaud the WPCA and Chairman Nunzio Parente for their success in lowering fees for our residents for a third year in a row,” said Cassetti. “I firmly believe that tax and fee reductions play a critical role in attracting and retaining businesses in Ansonia. Ansonia’s taxpayers deserve relief and I am very pleased that we are all working together to make things easier on the residents.”

Cassetti said the WPCA is continuing to work with the city on further cost-savings methods. He said the city’s Tax Office and the WPCA recently worked in conjunction on a request for proposals to sell delinquent tax and sewer liens. Cassetti said the revenue generated from that tax sale “will also help to relive taxpayer burden going forward.”

Cassetti was equally pleased with the sewer rate reduction, as it also comes on the heels of a tax rate decrease for all taxpayers, for a third consecutive year, as well, that the Board of Aldermen approved earlier this year with the passage of the 2016-17 city budget.

In Ansonia, sewer bills are collected in two installments, the first one due Sept. 1, 2016, and payable before Oct. 1, 2016, and the second one due March 1, 2017, payable before April 1, 2017. Payments can be made in person at the Ansonia WPCA, 253 West Main St, lower level, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday. Payments can also be mailed, with checks payable to “Ansonia WPCA” to: Ansonia WPCA, P.O.Box 178, Ansonia, CT 06401.